Education Minister Roberto Furcal proudly announced the start of classes nationwide. While several private schools have begun online classes in August and September, it was not until now that all schools are ordered to start their distance learning programs. This week is a transition week, when parents are invited to pick up materials at public schools and students are introduced to new distance learning programs.
The government says that 500,000 students have received laptops. Nevertheless, most students are being asked to tune into morning and afternoon hours of instruction a day on TV and radio. Each grade is being assigned a TV channel. Classes will be from 9 to 12 noon and 3 to 6pm. Students are receiving notebooks and teachers will be providing guidance by WhatsApp.
Furcal stresses the content is logical and useful. He spoke of a video on nation founding father Juan Pablo Duarte that was prepared with the Duarte Institute. Another is on the Dominican Constitution in coordination with the Constitutional Court. There is a video on driver’s education, prepared with the National Transit Institute (Intrant). Another on the national dance, merengue, with legendary experts Huchi Lora and Rafael Solano. The Ministry of Sports is involved and there are videos on learning to play baseball with legendary baseball players on learning to play table tennis and chess. There is a video on the environment prepared with the Ministry of Environment. A video motivates respect and love for animals, prepared with ONGs dedicated to animal welfare.
Education Furcal also announced that parents will receive the raw ingredients to prepare the snacks and lunches at home. The families will need to pick the ingredients at the public schools once a week.
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Diario Libre
Diario Libre
2 November 2020